• North Dakota State College of Science is the only school in North Dakota that offers a dental hygiene program.dentist image by DXfoto.com from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the American Dental Hygienist's Association, there is only one accredited dental hygiene program in North Dakota, located at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The two-year program is fully accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. The program allows students to experience a wide variety of hands-on learning environments to help them gain an in-depth understanding of the job.
  
  

Program Details

• According to the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) website, the dental hygiene program is two years long, with an eight-week summer session between the first and second years. During the two-year program, students are exposed to a variety of learning environments, including classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings designed to provide them with the broadest, most in-depth education possible. Students are also placed at off-campus affiliated sites to do practical work, allowing them to further develop their skill set. When the program has been successfully completed, the student is awarded an Associate in Applied Science degree in Dental Hygiene.
  
  

Entrance Requirements

• According to NDSCS, the entrance requirements for the program are as follows:
  
  1. A high school or GED diploma
  
  2. ACT or SAT score
  
  3. A minimum college GPA of 2.75
  
  4. A current CPR credential
  
  5. The following college courses completed by August 1 prior to program entry:
  
  Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 115/115L)
  
  Anatomy and Physiology I (BIOL 220/220L)
  
  College Composition (ENGL 110)
  
  Anatomy and Physiology II (BIOL 221/221L)
  
  Science of Success (FYE 101)
  
  College Algebra (MATH 103) or equivalent is not required, but is highly recommended.
  
  

Costs and Funding

• The NDSCS website states that tuition and related fees total $4,173/year. Books, room and board (should the student live on campus), and program-specific dental tools are extra. A detailed cost breakdown can be found on the school's website. See the Resource section of this article for a link. The school does offer financial aid for those who qualify. A detailed review of aid options and application procedures can be found on the school website, and is worth exploring in detail. A link to the information and applications can be found in the Resource section.
  
  North Dakota State College of Science
  
  800 Sixth Street North
  
  Wahpeton, North Dakota 58076-0002
  
  800-342-4325
  
  701-671-2401
  
  ndscs.nodak.edu/default.asp